Speed-indicator for automobiles.



PATENTED SEPT; 22, 1903.

J. w. SUTTON. SPEED mmonon FOR-AUTOMOBILES.

APPLIO'A'HOK FILED mm: 29, 1902. v

2 sums-sum 1.

F0 MODEL.

. ATTORNEYS.

PATENTED SEPT. 22, 1903.

J. w. SUTTON. SPEED INDIGATOB. FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1902.

2 .8KEETSSHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

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' the plate by the wheel, said indicator-plate 'speed 5' and for thispurpose the invention con- JOHN w. SUTTON, or B Patented September 22,1903.

PATENT OFFICE.-

RooKLYn, NEW YORK.

SPEED-INDICATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Pateht No. 739,740, datedseptember 22, 1903.

Application. filed June 20, 1902.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known thatI, JOHN W. SUTTON, acitizen of the UnitedStates,residingin New York, borough of Brooklyn, and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Speed-Indicatorsfor Automobiles, of which the followingisa specification. The object ofthis inventionis to furnish to vehicles known as automobiles an improvedspeed-indicating device that will show at any time to the automobilistat what speed his machine is running, so as to enablehim to keep withinthe legal limits of speed and have some definite measure of controllingsists' of a speed-indicating attachment for automobiles which comprisesa guard-plate attached to the steering-knuckle and provided with asegmental slot, a suitably-guided plate subdivided into panels or fieldsof differentoolors,and a connecting-spring between said plate and thewheel, so as to act in op-- position to the centrifugal force impartedto being so arranged that it can be readily seen through the segmentalslot of the guard-plate by the party controlling the motor, as will hefullydescribed hereinafter and finallypointed' out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan 'of the right-handfront wheel of an automobile andits steering mechanism. Fig. 2' is arear elevation of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are side elevations of thefront wheel with my improved speed-indicating attachment, Fig. 3 showingthe guard-plate in position, while in Fig. at the guard-plate isremoved. Fig. 5 is a central vertical section of the righthand frontsteering-wheel of an automobile with a modified construction of thespeed-indicator. Fig. 6 is an inside elevation of the same, partly insection, and with the guardplate removed; and Fig. 7 is a diagram of theguard attached to the automobile for indicating the speed in miles, asindicated by the speed-indicating device.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the right-hand frontsteering-wheel of an automobile of any approved construction; B, theaxle of the same, which is connected Serial No. 112,451. (No model.)

with the main axle and with the well-known steering mechanism. To theaxle B is attaohed a segmental guard-plate C, which is provided with asegmental slot 01. The lower edge of the segmental slot at is in linewith the upper outline of a speed-indicating plate D when the same is innormal position of rest. The speed-indicating plate D is either pivotedat its outer end to one of the spokes of the front wheel A of thevehicle, so that the body of the same is free to swing in outwarddirection away from the hub of the wheel by the centrifugal forceimparted by the revolving wheel to the plate, and it may be connected bya helical spring ewith the hub of the wheel, the tension of the springpartially counteracting the centrifugal force, or it may he guided onparallel rodsf, attached to the hub and rim of the wheel A, as shown inFigs. 5 and 6, the centrifugal force being adapted to act upon thehelical spring 6, attached to the speed-indicating plate and to the hub,as shown in Fig. 6.

The speed-indicating plate D is divided across its face into a number ofsegmental sections or panels, which are painted in different' colors,the curve of the panels corresponding with the curve of the segmentalslot d in the guard-plate or shield O, which is made of sheet metal andfirmly attached to the steering-knuckle, being located parallel, ornearly so,with the front wheel and a small distance from thespeed-indicating plate D. The curved colored panels on thespeed-indicatin g plate D may be seen through the segmental slot in theguard-plate or shield as they revolve past the slot. The weight of theplate and the strength of the helical spring are so proportioned thatwhen they are applied to a thirty-inch wheel of an automobile and thewheel is making ninety revolutions per. minute the centrifugal forcewill cause the wide end of the plate to move outwardly under the tensionof the spring, so that the white panel will at each revolution pass theslotin the guard-plate, indicating thereby the speed of eight miles anhour. When the speed is increased to one hundred and twelve rotationsper minute, the cen- ,trifugal force will carry the plate outwardlyuntil the panel which is of yellow color passes back of the curved slotand indicates thereby to the automobilist that the machine is running atthe rate of ten miles an hour. The next succeeding panels are madelikewise of different colors, the speed corresponding to the same inmiles being indicated by figures on the plate D, as shown in detail,Fig. 7.

When the automobile is running at high speed, the quick rotation of thespeed-indicating plate causes the panel showing through the slot of theguard-plate to produce a continuous impression to the eye of the colorwhich is then passing the slot. The automobile is provided on thedashboard with a card or plate D, indicating the'colors and the numbersof miles which the color represents on the speed-indicator, as shown inFig. 7, so that the automobilist can readily read off thereby the speedof his machine. When the speed is slackened, the spring Will draw backin the speed-indicating plate, the changing color in the slot indicatingthe reduced speed of the auto. If two narrow bands of colors are visibleto the eye, it indicates that the machine is running at an intermediatespeed. The speed-indicating attachment has to be in proportion to thesize of the wheel. The successive arrangement of the colors isimmaterial, provided that the speed-indicating diagram must correspondwith the colors on the speed-indicating plate. The attachment is simple,having only one movable part, and can be readily cleaned. It indicatesvisually to the motorman the speed at which his machine is running andenables him to keep within the legal limits when driving within the cityor permits him 'to determine the speed at which he is running whenrunning at full speed.

In the case of automobiles that are provided with mud-guards thespeed-indicating device would be concealed from view, so that it wouldnecessitate the use of a mirror suit-- ably placed to reflect the faceof the segmental guard-plate, so that the color may be clearly seen inthe slot without inconvenience to the motorman.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. A speed-indicating device for automobiles,consisting of a vertical guard-plate or shield attached to thesteering-knuckle of the front wheel, said guard-plate being providedwith a horizontal slot, a speed-indicating plate provided with coloredpanels arranged adjacent to said wheel, between the axis of the same andsaid slot, means for controlling the centrifugal movement of saidindicating-plate, and a counteracting spring connected with the plateand wheel, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the front steering-wheel of an automobile, of avertical guard-plate or shield attached to the steeringknuckle of thesame and provided with a horizontal segmental slot, a speed-indicatingplate arranged adjacent to said shield between the axis of the same andsaid slot and between said shield and the wheel, and divided into anumber of segmental and differently colored strips or panels, means forguiding said indicating-plate on the wheel, and a spring connecting saidindicating-plate with the wheel and acted upon by the centrifugal forcethereof, substantially as set forth.

In testimonythat I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN WV. SUTTON.

Witnesses:

PAUL GoEPEL, O. BRADWAY.

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